Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Get Ready For A 'Super Bloom' Of Wildflowers In The Anza-Borrego Desert
By Mariel Turner
The formerly barren Anza-Borrego Desert will soon be covered with spectacular wildflowers, thanks to the heaviest rainfall in nearly a decade.
Wildflower experts predicted in February that heavy downpour in the 600,000-acre Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, which is located about three hours southeast of L.A., would lead to a record bloom season.
Purple sand verbena flowers, yellow brittlebrush, California lupins and white desert lilies are all expected to bloom within the next few weeks, Ernie Cowan, president of the Anza-Borrego Foundation, told LAist.
Support for LAist comes from
“The classic field of color plant out there is the dune verbena,” Clayton Tschudy, director of horticulture at the Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College, told KPBS. “It can cover whole fields with purple, and when you stand out there you can smell its sort of sweet delicate scent.”
“Because of the water this year, the unprecedented amounts of rain, there is an incredible amount of bloom,” said Cowan. “Hundreds of different varieties of flowers. We’re probably going to start to peak mid-March, in about two weeks.”
The desert, located two hours away from San Diego, typically does not bloom this early in the year, according to Cowan.
Visitors can look forward to large volume of blossoms near Henderson Canyon Road and Di Giorgio Road on the north end of the desert.
“The best bet, if you don’t know Borrego and haven’t been there before, is to go to the Visitor’s Center, which is at the west end of Borrego Palm Canyon Drive” said Cowan. “There are areas that are green that you’ve never seen green, grass and plants growing in areas we haven’t seen in years because of the volume of rainfall.”
In celebration of its 50th anniversary, the ABF is also offering free access to the Borrego Palm Canyon hiking trail where visitors can check out the vibrant flowers, plus native palm groves, sheep sightings and a waterfall.
Upcoming free dates include March 25 to 26 and April 1 to 2.
Support for LAist comes from
Mariel Turner is a freelance reporter who covers local and entertainment news in Los Angeles.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
After rising for years, the number of residential installations in the city of Los Angeles began to drop in 2023. The city isn’t subject to recent changes in state incentives, but other factors may be contributing to the decline. -
The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs.
-
Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons after suddenly shutting down six months ago.
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
Best of LAist